Fluid heating system that uses recaptured waste heat energy of automobile engine

ABSTRACT

The fluid heating system includes an on-board fluid heater subsystem mounted on an automobile, and a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem installed in a land side facility. The on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a fluid tank that contains at least one heat exchanger, a heat exchanger embedded in the automobile&#39;s each exhaust system, an on-board computer, an on-board guidance means, an on-board docking means, and a front-end air flow control system. The land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a land-side docking means, a land-side guidance means, a land-side docking means, and a land-side computer. The fluid heated and stored in the fluid tank, and sent to the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem is water substance.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/636,162 filed on Dec. 8, 2006 entitled “Fluid Heating System that Uses Recaptured Waste Heat Energy of Automobile Engine,” which is a continuation-in-part of now abandoned application Ser. No. 11/528,264 filed on Sep. 27, 2006 entitled “Fluid Heating System that Uses Recaptured Waste Heat Energy of Automobile Engine.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fluid-heating systems that use otherwise to-be-wasted heat energy of automobiles as the energy source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that the internal combustion engine mounted on the automobile utilizes generally well below half of the fuel energy for powering the engine, and the rest is emitted to the atmosphere from the radiator, the exhaust system, the oil pan, and engine walls as heat energy. Much of this ordinarily wasted energy does not have to be wasted. It can be recaptured and used for productive purposes. One of the ways to recapture the wasted energy of automobile engine is to equip the automobile with a fluid tank, and heats up the fluid in the fluid tank with the thrown-away heat from the engine for later use such as for ordinary household use or for space heating. This fluid heating system may be used not only in private homes but also in office buildings, public and community facilities. The fluid heating system will have to be extremely easy to use, and carrying of the fluid should not become an overburden to the automobile.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is the provision of a fluid heating system that uses automobile's recaptured waste energy for heating the water and/or space heating.

An object of this invention is the provision of a fluid heating system that is equipped with a hands-free docking system between an automobile and a land-side facility.

An object of this invention is the provision of a fluid heating system that is equipped with means to control the air flow into openings at the front end of the automobile.

An object of this invention is the provision of a radiator that will cause least aerodynamic drag for cooling the working fluid used in the embedded heat exchanger in the exhaust system.

An object of this invention is the provision of a fluid tank that is able to maximize the rate of retaining the energy in the heated fluid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the fluid heating system includes an on-board fluid heater subsystem mounted on an automobile (or on-board subsystem) and a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem (or land-side subsystem) installed at a land-side facility. The on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a fluid tank, a heat exchanger embedded in engine's each exhaust system, a radiator connected to the exhaust system, an on-board computer, an on-board guidance means, an on-board docking means assembly, and a front-end air flow control system. The fluid heated by the fluid heater of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally water substance.

The on-board fluid tank includes first and second heat exchangers. The on-board fluid tank's first heat exchanger is connected to the inlet and outlet hoses of automobile's radiator. The on-board fluid tank's second heat exchanger is connected to the embedded heat exchanger in the exhaust system. The on-board fluid tank is connected to an on-board docking means assembly. The on-board docking means assembly comprises a docking means for hot fluid, which includes a hot fluid pipe with a shutoff valve and a docking head, and a docking means for cold fluid, which includes a cold fluid pipe with a shutoff valve and a docking head. The front-end air-flow control system includes at least one computer controlled motor, and at least one door for the front-end opening.

The land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a land-side computer, a land-side guidance means, a land-side docking means assembly, and necessary pipes and valves that connect the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem to the land-side heater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when considered with the accompanying drawings. It here will be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and not by way of limitation of the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to the same parts in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the hot fluid half of the docking system;

FIG. 3 is a simplified partial view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust system with an embedded heat exchanger;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front-end openings of the automobile at the open state;

FIG. 6 is a simplified vertical cross-sectional view of the front-end openings of the automobile at the closed state;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the on-board fluid heater subsystem that includes only one heat exchanger in the on-board fluid tank;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another alternative embodiment of the on-board heater subsystem with one heat exchanger in the on-board fluid tank;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem, in which the heated fluid is used as the working fluid of an indirect heater;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another alternative embodiment of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem that includes a plurality of docking systems and guidance systems;

FIG. 12 is a set of views of a non-conventional radiator;

FIG. 13 is an expanded view of the connection of the front end tank and flat tubes of the non-conventional radiator shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an expanded view of an alternative embodiment of the non-conventional radiator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As is shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the fluid heating system 1 includes an on-board fluid heater subsystem 2 and a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4, both shown in solid lines, and relevant parts of an automobile 3 (or a wheeled vehicle that carries its own motor) and a land-side facility 5, both shown in dotted lines. The on-board fluid heater subsystem is mounted on the automobile 3, and the land-side heating fluid receiving subsystem is installed in the land side facility 5. These two subsystems may not be permanently paired; i.e., the on-board fluid heater subsystem may be used with different land-side heated fluid receiving subsystems, and the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem may be used with different on-board fluid heater subsystems. The relevant parts of the automobile 3 include an internal combustion engine 12 with the automobile's radiator 14, and at least one exhaust system, each of which is modified to include a heat exchanger, the radiator's inlet hose 48 that takes in cooling fluid from the engine 12, and the radiator's outlet hose 46 that outputs cooling fluid to the engine 12.

The on-board fluid heater subsystem 2 includes a fluid tank (or on-board fluid tank) 22 that includes first heat exchanger 24 and second heat exchanger 63; a heat exchanger 16 embedded in the exhaust system (or each of the exhaust systems in the automobile that has a plurality of exhaust systems) 18; a radiator 100 or second radiator (we call the exhaust system's radiator) that is connected to the heat exchanger embedded in the exhaust system; an on-board computer 20 wherein a computer implies an electronic device for the storage and processing of information; an on-board guidance means 60; an on-board docking means assembly 77A; and a front-end air flow control system 102. The fluid heated by the fluid heating system 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally water substance.

The on-board fluid tank's first heat exchanger 24 has an inlet pipe 54, which is connected to the engine's radiator inlet hose 48 by a directional valve 40, which directs the cooling fluid's flow coming out of the engine 12 to the pipes 54 or 48. The on-board fluid tank's first heat exchanger 24 has an outlet pipe 52 that is connected to the radiator's outlet hose 46. The on-board fluid tank's second heat exchanger 63 is connected to the exhaust system's heat exchanger 16 by an inlet pipe 58 (to the on-board fluid tank 22) and an outlet pipe 56 (from the on-board fluid tank 22). A pipe 47 connects the inlet pipe 58 and the outlet pipe 56 at their midsections. The inlet pipe 58 is equipped with a circulation pump 71, a pressure/temperature relief valve 70 with an overheat reservoir, and a directional valve 42, which directs the working fluid to the fluid tank 22 or to the exhaust system's radiator 100. A connecting pipe 47 is equipped with a three-way directional valve 53, which directs the working fluid from either the inlet pipe 58 to the inlet port of the exhaust system's radiator 100 or from the outlet pipe 56 to the inlet port. The exit port of the exhaust system's radiator 100 is connected to the inlet port of the heat exchanger 16 of the exhaust system 18 by an outlet pipe 43, which is connected to the outlet pipe 56 from the fluid tank 22. The junction of the pipes 43 and 56 is equipped with a directional valve 79 that connects the heat exchanger 18 either to the radiator 100 or to the outlet pipe 56. The on-board fluid tank 22 includes a thermometer 23, a fluid level gauge 49, a vacuum/air relief valve 19, a pressure/temperature relief valve 37, and a manually operated drain. The on-board fluid tank 22 is connected to the on-board docking means assembly 77A, which is the on-board part of the docking system 77, by a hot fluid pipe 30 equipped with a shutoff valve 39 and a cold fluid pipe 28 equipped with a shutoff valve 44. The on-board docking means assembly 77A comprises an on-board docking means for hot fluid 77AH (see FIG. 2) and an on-board docking means for cold fluid.

The on-board guidance means 60, the directional valves 40, 42, 53, and 79, the shutoff valves 39 and 44, the thermometers 23 and 25, the fluid level gauge 49, the vacuum/air relief valve 19, and the circulation pump 71 are all controlled or monitored by the on-board computer 20. An on-board computer of the automobile, whose work includes engine control may take over all of the fluid heater-related work. In such a case, the on-board computer 20 is not necessary.

The relevant parts of the land-side facility 5 to which the heated fluid receiving subsystem 4 of the fluid heating system of the present invention are added include a land-side fluid heater 78, a cold fluid pipe 64 and a hot fluid pipe 86, wherein both of which pipes are connected to the fluid heater 78. The land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4 includes a cold fluid pipe 65 with a pressure regulating (or reducing) valve 94, wherein which cold fluid pipe is connected to the land-side docking means assembly 77B; a hot fluid pipe 68 that is connected to the land-side facility's cold fluid pipe 64 at one end and connected to the land-side docking means assembly 77B at the other end; a shutoff valve 61 on the cold pipe 64; a land-side computer 80; a land-side guidance means 84; a land-side docking means assembly 77B, which includes a land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH and a land-side docking means for cold fluid 77BC; and a suction pump 57 and a shutoff valve 41 affixed to the hot fluid pipe 68 that are used when the amount of the fluid in the on-board fluid tank 22 is to be reduced.

The land-side guidance means 84, the shutoff valves 41, 61, 93 and 95, and the suction pump 57 are controlled by the land-side computer 80. When the automobile is at the land-side facility, the land-side computer 80 and the on-board computer 20 may be connected by a communication means (not shown) to exchange relevant information.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the on-board docking means for hot fluid 77AH includes a mechanically-actuated spring loaded shutoff valve 34 affixed to a generally slightly bendable but not generally shrinkable inner pipe 38-2 affixed to the hot fluid pipe 30 that is connected to the on-board fluid tank 22, wherein actuation of which shutoff valve 34 is caused by pressing a valve actuation means 29 against a valve actuation means 27 of a shutoff valve 72 of the land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH; a cone-shaped male docking head 38 with a gasket 38A, which is affixed to a generally bendable and shrinkable coil spring covered outer hose 38-1 coaxial to the inner pipe 38-2, which is affixed to the hot fluid pipe 30; a strain gauge 88 that is connected to the on-board computer 20 and estimates the force applied to the docking head 38; and the computer operated shutoff valve 39 attached to the hot fluid pipe 30. The on-board docking means for cold fluid is generally identical to the land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH.

The land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH includes a mechanically actuated shutoff valve 72 with the valve actuation means 27 affixed to a generally slightly bendable but not generally shrinkable inner pipe 66-2 that is affixed to the hot fluid pipe 68; a female docking head 66 having a V-shaped cross section with a gasket 66A affixed to a slightly bendable and generally shrinkable coil spring covered outer hose 66-1 that is affixed to the hot fluid pipe 68; a strain gauge 87 that is connected to the land-side computer 80, and estimates the force applied to the docking head 66; the computer operated shutoff valve 95 attached to the hot fluid pipe 68; and a signal light 89 that is lit to show that the docking heads 38 and 66 are fully engaged. The land-side docking means is generally identical to the on-board docking means in physical design. In either land-side or on-board docking means, the docking head type (either male or female) is selected based on the direction of the fluid to be carried by the docking means. The on-board docking means for hot fluid 77AH couples with the land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH, and the on-board docking means for cold fluid couples with the land-side docking means for cold fluid.

Docking of the on-board docking means for hot fluid 77AH and the land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH involves four stages—the first stage, which is necessary only in a commercial and/or a public system, involves a request for docking made by the on-board computer 20 to the land-side computer 80 and permission of docking given by the land-side computer; the second stage involves connection of the docking heads 38 and 66 with a proper pressure to the gaskets that is strong enough to prevent leakage of the fluid; the third stage involves opening of the spring loaded valves 34 and 72; and the fourth stage involves opening of the computer operated shutoff valves 39 and 95. The first stage occurs before the on-board docking means assembly touches the land-side docking means.

In a commercial or public system, the land-side docking means assembly will be covered by a cover means when the docking means assembly is not in use. In such a system, the docking means assembly will be exposed for docking only after the request is granted in the first stage of docking maneuver. The second stage starts as the on-board docking means for hot fluid 77AH starts to press against the land-side docking means for hot fluid 77BH. As the driver slowly drives the automobile ahead, the spring covered hose 38A-1 of the on-board docking means and the spring covered hose 66-1 in the land-side docking means shrink. In the third stage, the valve actuation means 29 and 27 press the spring loaded shutoff valves 34 and 72 backward, and opens the fluid channel of the shutoff valves 34 and 72. In the fourth stage, the computer controlled shutoff valves 39 and 95 are opened. After transferring all the hot fluid in the on-board fluid tank 22 to the land-side facility, the shutoff valves 39 and 95 are closed. Then, next, the vacuum/air relief valve 19 is opened to reduce the pressure in the on-board fluid tank to the atmospheric pressure. Undocking of the docking means involves generally the reverse of what has taken place in the docking process as the driver backs up the parked automobile. The on-board computer relieves the fluid pressure in the fluid tank 22 so that the internal pressure of the fluid tank will become that of atmospheric pressure. The cold fluid half of the docking system operates generally in an identical manner to the hot fluid half.

To reduce the amount of the fluid in the on-board fluid tank, the land-side computer 80 closes the shutoff valves 41 and 93, opens the shutoff valve 95; the on-board computer 20 opens the shutoff valve 39 and closes the shutoff valve 44, and the land-side computer operates the pump 57 to draw in the fluid in the on-board fluid tank 22. To increase the amount of the fluid in the on-board fluid tank 22, the land-side computer 80 closes the shutoff valve 95, opens the shutoff valve 93, and the on-board computer 20 opens the vacuum/air relief valve 19 (see FIG. 5).

The on-board guidance means 60 and the land-side guidance means 84 together makes up a guidance system that assist the driver in steering the automobile in docking the on-board docking means assembly 77A with the land-side docking means assembly 77B. While in the docking process, the on-board guidance means 60 emits a laser beam, and the land-side guidance means 84 receives it (see FIG. 3). The land-side guidance means 84 shows the target point and concentric circles around it, and the point at which the laser beam hits. The driver sees these two points, and steers the automobile in such a manner that the laser point emitted by the on-board guidance means will zero into a fixed point of the land-side guidance means. The two points may be shown on any means including a plain plate on the garage wall, a CRT screen installed on the garage wall to show an enlarged picture, or a CRT screen installed in the automobile.

As is shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 16 of the exhaust system 18 includes a fluid jacket 13, which covers the exhaust manifold 35 and an exhaust pipe 17 and at least one coiled tube 11 that extends along inside the exhaust pipe 17, and a thermometer 25 that is connected to the on-board computer 20. The heat exchanger 16 may cover the catalytic converter 15 to maximize heat-exchanging capability. The catalytic converter 15 will have to be moved closer to the engine or may have to be heated in order to keep its temperature high enough for it to work properly. When the temperature in the heat exchanger 16 exceeds a predefined minimum temperature, the pump 71 starts to pump the fluid from the heat exchanger 16 into the on-board fluid tank 22 through the pipe 58, and the heated fluid flows out from the on-board fluid tank 22 into the heat exchanger 16 through the pipe 56.

As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the front-end air flow control system 102 includes at least one computer-controlled motor 108 that controls opening and closing of at least one door 98 for air-intake opening 104 at the front end of the automobile. The computer shuts and opens one or more of the doors on the way. Opening and closing of the doors 98 will be performed in synchronization with the operation of the directional valve 40. The fluid heater system will have to include a means to cool transmission fluid such as a heat exchanger in the on-board fluid tank, or a heat exchanger underneath the body that functions while the front-end air flow control doors are shut off.

As is shown in FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment 2A of the on-board fluid heater subsystem includes the on-board fluid tank 22A has only one heat exchanger 24A that is connected to the radiator 14A by inlet pipe 54A and the outlet pipe 52A. The fluid tank 22A is connected to the exhaust system's heat exchanger 16A by the inlet pipe 58A and the outlet pipe 56A. The inlet pipe 58A diverges in the middle and leads to a fluid drain tank 110. A computer-controlled shutoff valve 62 is installed on the pipe between the diverge point and the inlet port to the fluid drain tank 110. The fluid drain tank 110 has an air vent 117 and an outlet pipe with a computer-controlled shutoff valve 31, wherein which outlet pipe is connected to the outlet pie 56A between its computer-controlled shutoff valve 67 and the inlet port to the embedded heat exchanger 16A of the exhaust system 18A. The inlet pipe 58A has a computer-controlled shutoff valve 47 between the diverge point and the inlet port of the on-board fluid tank 22A. The exhaust system's heat exchanger has an air inlet port with a computer-controlled shutoff valve 85 at generally the furthest point from the circulation pump 58A. The temperature/pressure relief valves 70A and 37A will not be equipped with overflow reservoirs. Except for these differences, the design of the fluid heater subsystem 2A is generally the same as that of the preferred embodiment of the fluid heater subsystem 2.

While the on-board heater subsystem 2A is heating up the water in the fluid tank 22A, the shutoff valves 47 and 67 are kept at the open state, and the shutoff valves 31, 62 and 85 are kept at the shut-off state. When the temperature of the fluid in the fluid tank 22A reaches a target temperature, the on-board computer 20A shuts off the shutoff valves 41 and 67, and opens the shutoff valves 62 and 85. Then, the computer 20 pumps out the fluid in the heat exchanger 16A, and the fluid in the heat exchanger 16A is sent to the fluid drain tank 110. The fluid heated in the fluid tank 22A may be water substance or a non-water substance. If the content of the fluid tank is a non-water substance, the temperature/pressure relief valves 70A and 37A will be equipped with an overflow reservoir. Another embodiment of the on-board heater subsystem heats up water substance in the on-board fluid tank. This subsystem is not equipped with a drain tank. In that subsystem, if the temperature of the water substance reaches a preset maximum temperature, a computer controlled drain of the exhaust system's embedded heat exchanger is opened and drains the water substance inside.

As is shown in FIG. 8, another alternative embodiment 2B of the on-board heater subsystem includes the on-board fluid tank 22B with only one heat exchanger 24B that is connected to the engine's radiator 14B. Otherwise, this embodiment is generally identical to the preferred embodiment 2 of the on-board heater subsystem. The on-board fluid tank 22B is connected to the exhaust system's radiator 100A and the heat exchanger 16B by inlet pipe 58B and outlet pipe 56B. The fluid heated in the fluid tank 22B may be water substance or a non-water substance. If the content of the fluid tank is a non-water substance, the temperature/pressure relief valves 70B and 37B will be equipped with an overflow reservoir.

As is shown in FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4C includes a land-side fluid tank 160 that stores the heated fluid heated by the on-board fluid heater subsystem. In this alternative embodiment, the fluid sent to the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem is water substance. The land-side cold fluid pipe 64C equipped with a pressure regulating valve 177 sends the cold water to the land-side fluid heater tank 78C that is equipped with a shutoff valve 197. A cold fluid pipe 165 that is connected to the land-side cold fluid pipe 64C sends the cold water to the fluid tank 160. The cold fluid pipe 165 is equipped with a shutoff valve 194. The fluid tank 160 has two compartments—a hot fluid compartment 169 and a cold fluid compartment 167 (see FIG. 10). The cold fluid compartment 167 of the fluid tank 160 is connected to the cold fluid part of the docking means by a cold fluid pipe 65C. In the fluid heating system that include this land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4C, the heated water from the on-board fluid tank is transferred to the land-side fluid tank right after the automobile is docked at the land-side facility. In the process of transferring the heated water to the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem, the shutoff valve 194 is set at the open state, and the shutoff valve 197 is set at the shut-off state, and the cold water in the cold fluid compartment 169 is drawn out of the compartment and sent to the on-board fluid tank by a circulation pump 196 (see FIG. 10), and the fluid separation board 168 moves down within the land-side fluid tank 160. The fluid separation board 168 may be made heavy enough for it to move down without switching on the circulation pump 196.

As soon as the heated water transfer operation is completed, the shutoff valve 194 is changed to the open state, and the shutoff valves 197 and 198 are set at the shut-off state. As the heated water is consumed, the cold water pressure in the cold fluid (lower) compartment 169 pushes the separation board 168 up, and the heated water in the hot fluid (upper) compartment 167 of the land-side fluid tank 160 is sent to the land-side fluid heater 178C through a hot fluid pipe 176 that is equipped with a shutoff valve 171.

As is shown in FIG. 10, another alternative embodiment of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4D includes a fluid storage tank 113 that contains a heat exchanger 111 inside, wherein the heated fluid of the on-board fluid heater system is circulated by the circulation pump 101 D through the heat exchanger 111 and heats up the water in the fluid storage tank 113. The heated water in the fluid tank 113 is pushed out of the fluid tank to the land-side hater/storage tank 78D by the cold water pressure coming in to the storage tank 113 through the cold fluid pipe 64D while a directional valve 115 is set at the “to the storage tank” position. If the water in the land-side fluid heater 78D needs additional heating, it will do so. The heated water goes out of the heater 78D through the hot fluid pipe 86D. This alternative embodiment is able to use any substance as the working fluid inside the heat exchanger 111.

As is shown in FIG. 11, in another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the land-side facility includes a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4F for two automobiles. The land-side fluid receiving subsystem 4F includes two land-side docking means 77B-1F and 77B-2F; two guidance means 84-1F and 84-2F; two shutoff valves 61-1F and 61-2F; a cold fluid diverging pipe 64-2F that diverges cold fluid for the second land-side docking means 77B-2F from the land-side cold fluid pipe 64F; the cold fluid pipe 62-1F with a pressure regulating valve 94-1F, and the hot fluid pipe 68-1F to which the land-side docking means 77-1F is connected and the cold fluid pipe 62-2F with a pressure regulating valve 94-2F, and the hot fluid pipe 68-2F to which the land-side docking means 77-2F is connected. This is a two-automobile version of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem 4. In this alternative embodiment, water substance is the fluid sent to the land-side facility. It must be apparent that the land-side facility that include any number of land-side heated fluid receiving subsystems of the preferred embodiment 4 and alternative embodiments 4C and 4E can be easily designed.

The radiator 100 used in the on-board fluid heater subsystem 2, the radiator 14A used in the on-board fluid heater subsystem 2A, and the radiator 100B used in the on-board fluid heater subsystem 2B may be of a non-conventional type that is affixed to the bottom of the automobile. FIG. 12 shows (a) a top view, (b) a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (c) a bottom view, and (d) a front view of such a radiator 100S. The radiator 100S is affixed to the bottom of an automobile. As is shown in FIG. 12, the radiator 100S includes a front-end tank 140 with an inlet port 101 and a rear end tank 142 with an outlet port 103, and a sheet metal 150. The front-end tank 140 and the rear end tank 142 are affixed to the sheet metal 150. The front-end tank 140 and the rear end tank 142 are connected by a plurality of generally flat fins 144, each of which having an internal cavity 146 (see FIG. 13) through which the working fluid travels. Each end of the fins 144 is closed, but its thin side has an opening at the two ends and each of which opening communicates with a slit opened in the sheet metal 150 and a slit opened at the bottom of each of the end tanks. The rest of the fin 144 is affixed to the bottom surface of the sheet metal 150 in such a manner that the fin is generally perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sheet metal. The end tanks 140 and 142, the sheet metal 150 and a plurality of the fins 144 together form a structure that is strong enough to keep the structural integrity of the radiator. The sheet metal 150 may be used as a part of the sheet metal that covers the bottom of the automobile. It must be apparent that the radiator 100S may be used as a sole radiator of an automobile or an auxiliary radiator for the automobile equipped with an on-board fluid heater subsystem, or as a condenser of its climate control system, or as a radiator that cools the transmission oil.

FIG. 13 shows an expanded view of the vicinity of the front-end tank 140 of the radiator 100S. The figure shows that the near ends (in the figure) of the fins 144 and the sheet metal 150 are squarely cut in the middle so that the internal cavity 146 of the fins 144 may be clearly shown in the figure.

FIG. 14 shows the same expanded view (as that shown in FIG. 13) of another embodiment of the generally flat-shaped radiator. As is shown in FIG. 14, the radiator is constructed by (1) welding a sheet metal 150′ and another sheet metal 151 that is pressed to form fins with internal cavities 146 and 147, (2) closing the exposed internal cavities at the front and rear edges, (3) making a plurality of slit openings in the sheet metal 150′ in such a manner that the slit openings of the metal sheet will fit the slit openings at the bottom of the front and rear fluid tanks 10 and 142, and (4) welding the sheet metal 150′ and the front-end fluid tank 140′ and the rear-end fluid tank (not shown in FIG. 14) such that the working fluid in the front-end tank 140 will flow through the internal cavities 146 and 147 to the rear-end fluid tank 142. In both embodiments, the sheet metal 150 (or 150′) may be used as a part of the bottom cover of the automobile.

Another alternative embodiment of the on-board fluid heater subsystem includes no heat exchangers in the on-board fluid tank. In this alternative embodiment, the fluid tank is directly connected to the engine's radiator and the exhaust system's heat exchanger. The inlet and outlet pipes to/from the on-board fluid tank are equipped with shutoff valves, and the shutoff valves will be set at the closed state when the working fluid's temperature in the on-board fluid tank becomes higher than a pre-set temperature. The on-board fluid heater subsystem of this embodiment is intended to be used together with the embodiment 4D of the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem shown in FIG. 10.

Another alternative embodiment of the fluid heater subsystem includes a heat exchanger in the on-board fluid tank that is connected to the oil pan of the engine, wherein the cooling/lubrication oil is used as the working fluid. Another alternative embodiment of the fluid heater subsystem uses the cooling/lubrication oil to cool the engine and the exhaust system.

Another alternative embodiment of the fluid heater subsystem includes a heat exchanger in the on-board fluid tank that is connected to the transmission box. Another alternative embodiment of the fluid heater subsystem uses the transmission fluid to cool the exhaust system.

Another alternative embodiment of the fluid heater subsystem includes an on-board fluid tank that is not equipped with a means to separate hot fluid and cold fluid. The fluid heating system that uses such an on-board fluid heater subsystem is most effective when used with a land-side heated fluid receiving system equipped with an extra fluid storage tank that is much larger than the on-board fluid tank, or with a land-side facility that uses much more hot fluid than the on-board fluid tank can store.

In another alternative embodiment of the fluid heating system, at least one of the land-side and on-board computers is programmable so that the system user is able to input or select parameters of various control functionalities including the level of the fluid in the on-board fluid tank for the next trip, and for the day of the week and time of day.

In another alternative embodiment, the land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a means to switch off and restart the land-side fluid heater by control signals from the land-side computer. If it is programmed to do so, the land-side computer switches off the land-side heater when the on-board means decouples from the land-side docking means. When the automobile arrives at the land-side facility, and completes docking of the on-board docking means with the land-side docking means, the land-side computer switches on the circulation pump (if the land-side heater has a storage tank) so that the fluid temperature in the fluid tank of the land-side heater will be raised to the pre-set operational temperature.

In an alternative embodiment of the docking system, both the on-board docking means and the land-side docking means are equipped with manually operated shutoff valves, and hot and cold fluid hoses, and docking of the on-board heater subsystem and land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem is performed manually.

Another alternative embodiment of the docking system comprises the on-board docking means having only one docking head, and the land-side docking means having only one docking head, and each docking means includes hot and cold fluid pipes.

In an alternative embodiment of the guidance means, the on-board guidance means emits a laser beam, and receives the reflected beam on a laser beam receiving plate, wherein the land-side guidance means is a mirror. In this embodiment, the on-board computer measures the distance between the origin of the laser beam and the point at which the receiving plate received the laser beam. The driver steers the automobile so that the reflected point will get closer to the origin of the beam.

Another alternative embodiment of the guidance means includes a TV camera and a CRT screen. The CRT screen shows a “+” mark and concentric circles, wherein the “+” mark indicating the center point of the TV lens' current lateral location, and the center of the circles indicating the land-side target. The most inner concentric circle is located such that if the point within the circle on the CRT screen will guarantee docking of the on-board docking means with the land-side docking means.

In an alternative embodiment of the on-board fluid tank, a combination of an air bag and a compressor is used as a means to adjust the amount of fluid in the on-board fluid tank. To reduce the amount of the fluid in the on-board fluid tank, the compressor sends in air into the air bag while the cold pipe shutoff valve of the on-board docking means is kept at the shut-off state. To increase the amount of fluid in the on-board fluid tank, the compressor is kept idle while the fluid is sent into the on-board fluid tank. In such a system, each docking means includes hot and cold fluid pipes, and an air pipe through which air is sent from the land-side subsystem to the on-board fluid tank or drawn by the land-side subsystem from the on-board fluid tank.

In an alternative embodiment of the on-board fluid tank, a motor controlled by the on-board computer is rotatably connected to the gear shaft on each side of the fluid separation means so that the fluid separation means may be lifted up or down.

In another alternative embodiment, the on-board docking means assembly and on-board guidance means are located at the rear end of the automobile. In such a system, to dock the automobile, the driver must back up with the help of the guidance means.

The invention having been described in detail in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Patent Statutes, various other changes and modification will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art. For example, different piping and valve schemes of the land-side and on-board subsystems may be possible. Some of the shutoff valves may be required to control fluid flow rate, and some of the directional valves may be replaced by three-way flow control valves. The heat exchanger of the exhaust system may have a heater to heat the catalytic converter. The on-board fluid heater subsystem may require a filter to clean the working fluid of the embedded heat exchanger in the exhaust system. It is intended that the above and other such changes and modifications shall fall within the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 

1. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system that includes said on-board fluid heater subsystem and a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem is mounted on an automobile, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a fluid tank and an on-boar docking means assembly, said on-board docking means assembly includes at least one docking means, said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes at least one land-side docking means assembly, said land-side docking means assembly includes at least one docking means, and said on-board docking means couples with said land-side docking means.
 2. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes an on-board guidance means said land-side fluid heater subsystem includes an land-side guidance means wherein said on-board guidance means assists the driver in steering said automobile's on-board docking means assembly toward said land-side docking means assembly.
 3. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said docking means assembly of said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a docking means for cold fluid and a docking means for hot fluid.
 4. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said automobile includes a computer that controls said fluid heater subsystem.
 5. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a means to control air flow into front end of said automobile.
 6. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said automobile includes at least one exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a heat exchanger embedded in said exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a radiator that is connected to said heat exchanger embedded in said exhaust system.
 7. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said automobile includes at least one exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a heat exchanger embedded in said exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a working fluid drain tank that is connected to said heat exchanger embedded in said exhaust system.
 8. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system that includes said on-board fluid heater subsystem and a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem is mounted on an automobile, said automobile includes a radiator and at least one exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a fluid tank, a radiator, and an embedded heat exchanger in each of said exhaust system, and said on-board fluid heater subsystem's radiator is connected to said fluid tank and said embedded heat exchanger in said exhaust system.
 9. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 8 wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes an on-board guidance means wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem has an on-board docking means, said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem has a land-side docking means, said on-board guidance means assists the driver in steering said automobile's on-board docking means toward said land-side docking means.
 10. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 8 wherein said fluid heater subsystem includes a means to control air flow into front end of said automobile.
 11. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 8 wherein said automobile includes an on-board computer that controls said fluid heater subsystem.
 12. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 8 wherein said radiator is affixed to the bottom of said automobile.
 13. An on-board fluid heater subsystem of a fluid heating system that includes said on-board fluid heater subsystem and a land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem is mounted on an automobile, said automobile includes at least one exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a fluid tank and a heat exchanger embedded in said exhaust system, said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes a fluid drain tank, and said fluid drain tank is connected to said fluid tank and said heat exchanger embedded in said exhaust system.
 14. A land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem of a fluid heating system that includes an on-board fluid heater subsystem and said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem wherein said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes an on-board docking means assembly, said on-board docking means assembly includes a docking means for hot fluid and a docking means for cold fluid, said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes at least one land-side docking means assembly, said land-side docking means assembly includes a docking means for hot fluid and a docking means for cold fluid, and said on-board docking means couples with said land-side docking means.
 15. A land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 14 wherein said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a land-side guidance means said on-board fluid heater subsystem includes an on-board guidance means wherein said on-board guidance means assists the driver in steering said automobile's on-board docking means assembly toward said land-side docking means assembly.
 16. A land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 14 wherein said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a circulation pump, and said circulation pump circulates fluid between said on-board fluid heater subsystem and said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem.
 17. A land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 14 wherein said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a fluid storage tank.
 18. A land-side fluid receiving subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 14 wherein said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes a land-side computer.
 19. A land-side fluid receiving subsystem of a fluid heating system as defined in claim 14 wherein said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem is connected to a heater, said land-side heated fluid receiving subsystem includes means to switch off and restart said heater by control signals from a computer.
 20. A docking means affixed to a fluid pipe including a docking head and mechanically-actuated shutoff valve wherein two types of said docking head are possible, one type of said docking head is male docking head, the other type of said docking head is female docking head, and said male docking head couples with said female docking head.
 21. A docking means as defined in claim 20 wherein said docking means includes a coaxial inner pipe affixed to a fluid pipe, said docking means includes a coaxial outer hose affixed to said fluid pipe, said coaxial inner pipe is generally bendable and shrinkable, and said coaxial outer pipe is generally bendable but not shrinkable.
 22. A docking means as defined in claim 20 wherein said mechanically-actuated shutoff valve has an actuation means, when one docking means is pushed against another docking means, said actuation means of one docking means is pushed against said actuation means of another docking means, and said actuation means of both of said docking means together opens said mechanically-actuated shutoff valves of both of said docking means.
 23. A radiator mounted on an automobile including two end tanks, a plurality of fins and a metal sheet wherein said fin has a generally narrow top edge and a generally narrow bottom edge and two sides, and has an internal cavity, each longitudinal end of said fins is closed, said fin has an opening in said top edge at both ends, each of said end tank has a plurality of slits at bottom of said tank, said metal sheet has a plurality of slits, said two end tanks are affixed to one surface of said metal sheet, said fins are affixed to the other surface of said metal sheet, and said internal cavity of said fin communicates with internal space of each of said end tank through said slits of said end tank and said metal sheet, and said opening in each end of said fin.
 24. A radiator as defined in claim 23 wherein said fins are formed by pressing a sheet metal.
 25. A radiator as defined in claim 23 wherein said metal sheet constitutes a part of a metal sheet that covers the bottom of an automobile. 